Syria:
The Turkish-Russian Invasion against Idlib has begun!

All out to defend the Syrian Revolution against the Astana Conspirators! For
an anti-Assad, anti-imperialist and anti-capitulationist united front

By Michael Pröbsting, International Secretary of the Revolutionary Communist International Tendency (RCIT), 07.10.2017,
www.thecommunists.net

In the last hours, Turkey and Russia finally started their onslaught on the last free citadel of the Syrian Revolution. Erdoğan himself announced today in a
speech at his AK Party's 26thConsultation and Assessment meeting that "a serious operation" was beginning in Syria's Idlib – the
last large area under control of the Syrian liberation fighters where two million Syrians are living.(1)

Adapting to the notorious language used by Assad, Teheran, Moscow and Washington, the Turkish President denounced the supporters of the Syrian Revolution as
“terrorists”: "We will never allow the formation of a terror corridor along our Syrian border.”

The invasion is spearheaded by FSA troops who serve as mercenaries for the Erdoğan and Putin. According to reports 800 fighters from 15 FSA groups entered
Idlib via the Bab al Hawa border crossing.(2)Let us memorize the names of these treacherous groups
which now act as marionettes of the imperialist conspirators of Astana! Among them are the FSA Liwa Mu'tasim, the FSA Hamza Division and the FSA Liwa Samarkand.(3)

The Astana Conspiracy

There exists not the slightest doubt about the goal of this invasion. As the Revolutionary Communist International
Tendency (RCIT) and other supporters of the Syrian Revolution have warned for a long time, the Assad regime, Russia, Iran and Turkey reached an agreement at their negotiations at Astana in
spring this year.(4)This deal comprises the liquidation of the Syrian Revolution, consolidation of
Assad’s domination in the country and the establishment of four so-called "de-escalation zones" in those areas which are still under control of the liberation fighters (of which Idlib is
the largest and most important). The goal of this plan to disarm and “integrate” (i.e. corrupt) the remaining rebel forces so that they give up the struggle against the Assad dictatorship. Hence
the Astana deal includes the occupation of the four zones by Russian, Iranian and Turkish troops which will, sooner or later, ensure the full re-establishment of Assad’s terrorist regime in the
whole country.

Unsurprisingly, the Astana deal has been supported by US imperialism, which is currently occupying the north of Syria with the help of their SDF/YPG foot
soldiers, as well as the European Union from the very first moment as these powers have always desired for the liquidation of the Syrian Revolution. Shamefully this deal also received the tacit
support of the leaderships of various demoralized and corrupted groups of the so-called “moderate” Syrian opposition including the FSA.

Now, the assassins of the Syrian Revolution – Assad, Putin, Rouhani, and Erdoğan, with the support of Trump – are all uniting now to smash the last free
citadel of the Syrian people in Idlib. Erdoğan himself is openly admitting this collaboration. According to the Turkish state media, he announced in his speech today “that Russia is backing
the operation from the air and Turkish soldiers from inside the Turkish border.”(5)

Hayyat Tahrir al-Shamdefends
Idlib

The main target of the Turkish-Russian invasion in Idlib is Hayyat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – the largest and most dedicated force which is continuing the
struggle against the genocidal Assad dictatorship and the imperialist aggressors, Russia and US as well as their local lackeys (SDF/YPG, Iran, Turkey). The HTS has correctly, and unlike many
other opposition forces, publicly denounced the Astana deal and called for the continuation of the struggle against the Assad dictatorship. The imperialists – both Russia as well as the US – and
their local mercenaries have already prepared for this invasion in the past months by indiscriminately bombing civilian areas in Idlib (including hospitals(6)), by targeted air strikes against HTS leaders(7), and by orchestrating splits and divisions in HTS.(8)

It is symbolic for the counter-revolutionary, pro-Assadist character of the Turkish-Russian invasion in Idlib that it takes place only one day after HTS
launched a successful offensive in East Hama against the Assad forces.(9)

The RCIT and other supporters of the Syrian Revolution have warned about the Russian-Iranian-Turkish conspiracy for a very long time. Many brothers and sisters
did not believe us when we warned them about the reactionary character of the Erdoğan regime. They thought that Turkey would not do this. However, there can be no doubt now about the intention of
Ankara: it wants to have its share of the Syrian cake, it wants to continue the oppression of the Kurdish people and it is happy to sell the Syrian people for this purpose.

All forces who are determined to continue the Syrian liberation struggle must understand that the Turkish state is their enemy like Russian and US imperialism,
like Assad and like the Iranian regime. It has been one of the tragic failures of Syrian Revolution that many leaders hoped for support from imperialist or regional powers like the US or Turkey.
As we predicted such hopes had no basis and only led to disorientation, defeat and demoralization. A revolution can only win if it relies first and foremost on the organized power of the workers
and poor peasants!

Stand with the Idlib in these difficult hours!

Naturally, as revolutionary communists we have no illusions about the nature of the HTS leadership, which follows a petty-bourgeois nationalist-Islamist
agenda. This, however, does not limit our unconditional support for the liberation struggle in Syria and in particular, in these difficult hours, in Idlib – even if it is led by forces which
ideological agenda we strongly reject (like the HTS).

The Revolutionary Communist International Tendency calls once more for international solidarity with the Syrian
Revolution. The international workers’ movement and popular mass organizations must defend the anti-capitulationist liberation forces which are continuing the struggle against the Assad regime
and the Great Powers and their allies. In this decisive hour, we call for the defeat of the Turkish-Russian invasion and their local mercenaries and the defense of the liberation forces in Idlib.
We call all Syrian liberation fighters to create a joint military bloc against the enemies of the revolution. For an anti-Assad, anti-imperialist and anti-capitulationist united front!

Most crucially, all Syrian revolutionaries should learn the lessons of the defeats which the liberation struggle experienced in the past years. This includes
the combination of the defense of liberated areas like Idlib with a socialist program. Instead of hoping for support by this or that foreign power or by focusing on a militarist guerilla
strategy, revolutionaries should fight for the organization of the popular masses in independent councils and armed militias. The goal of the liberation struggle must be the creation of a
multinational, independent workers’ and peasants republic in Syria as part of a socialist federation of the Middle East!

We are fully aware about the difficult situation. This might be the Syrian Revolution’s last stand against overwhelming enemies. Encircled and attacked by
Assad’s army, the Russian and American imperialists, the Turkish army as well as the Iranian forces and Hezbollah and even the “FSA” traitors – the Syrian liberation fighters face a nearly
impossible task. However, only those who aid the imperialist will cynically stand aside or even join the traitors. All honest fighters for freedom will continue to support the ongoing liberation
struggle!

* Defeat the Turkish-Russian invasion against the free Syrians in Idlib!

* Condemn the FSA mercenaries of Erdoğan and Putin!

* For a military bloc of all forces which continue to defend the Syrian Revolution against the imperialist Astana
Conspirators! For an anti-Assad, anti-imperialist and anti-capitulationist united front!

* Down with the Astana Deal! Support the Syrian Revolution!

* Defend Idlib against the Great Powers and their allies!

* For a multinational, independent workers’ and peasants republic in Syria – free of sectarianism, foreign occupation
and dictatorship!

* For international mass mobilizations and strikes of workers, migrants and youth to stop the imperialist aggression of
Russia and the US against the peoples of the Middle East!

For the RCIT’s analysis of the Arab Revolution in general and the Syrian Revolution in
particular, we refer readers to our numerous articles and documents which can be accessed from the Africa and Middle East section of our website: https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/. In particular we refer readers to the
following documents:

Michael Pröbsting: Is the Syrian Revolution at its End? Is Third Camp Abstentionism Justified?
An essay on the organs of popular power in the liberated area of Syria, on the character of the different sectors of the Syrian rebels, and on the failure of those leftists who deserted the
Syrian Revolution, 5 April 2017, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/syrian-revolution-not-dead/

RCIT: World Perspectives 2017: The Struggle against the Reactionary Offensive in the Era of
Trumpism, Theses on the World Situation, the Perspectives for Class Struggle and the Tasks of Revolutionaries, 18 December 2016, Chapter IV. The Middle East and the State of the Arab Revolution,
https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/world-perspectives-2017/part-4/